“historical artifacts from the great mining era”
The Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming is open June - October. Walk back in history, via the Ishpeming Historical Society room, to see local historical artifacts representing the local community during the great mining era. View historical displays of miners and mines past and present, headgear & other safety equipment available to miners of yesteryear, and displays on blasting and diamond drilling equipment. Stop in the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club's room and view over 500 minerals from the local area, the Upper Peninsula, Midwest and the world. Take a guided tour of the tunnels that the miners walked to the base of the C-Shaft and listen to the history of mining from those who worked the mines. Follow up the stairs past old underground iron ore cars with a stop at the blacksmith shop. Go outside to view towers 97’ to 174’ high which were used to lower miners 1250’ into the bowels of the earth. Stand beside a 170-ton Iron Ore Truck with tires 12 feet high. Don’t forget your camera so you can have a memento of your visit standing inside the 30 ton shovel bucket in front of the Dry building or in front of the 170-ton Iron Ore truck. The museum is located at 501 W. Euclid Street, Ishpeming and open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm with a nominal admission.
For those interested in mining and the mystery of what happens underground, this mine is worthwhile. Although there is not an actual trip into the mine (which was a vertical shaft, now sealed). There are enough other aspect of mining and support systems on display to make this stop interesting. The tour guide was quite knowledgeable and patient to answer any and all questions from us tour-ees. They have a wonderful collection of all things related to this mine including the equipment issue area, machine shop and you can even push the plunger on one that was used to set off explosions. They also have a wonderfully complete rock collection including a nice exhibit of florescent rocks, (see the photo).
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Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum
Hours
- Tue - Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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